A/N: I wrote this as quickly as I did because I'm all too excited for what's coming next in this story J I hope you enjoy the chapter!

I don't own Kodocha or any of its contents.

Chapter 8: The Catalyst

Why did he feel like there was someone staring at him?

Shifting his gaze away from the window, he turned to his right and connected with two bright, annoying hazel eyes and an obnoxious smile that irked the hell out of him. Rolling his eyes, he scoffed.

That's because someone was certainly staring at him.

"What do you say to getting a head start on this project?" She asked and he almost gagged. Was it even natural to smile that big? "That way, we can get this done as soon as possible."

Funny, he thought. He pegged her for a procrastinator type of person. With how often she was late to class and her constant excuses to why she didn't finish her homework, he figured this project would be getting done two days before the due date (and he only knew all this because for some reason, they always seemed to be around one another).

Why did he agree to this project with her again?

Oh yeah, for the grade.

"Tch, whatever." He replied. She furrowed her brows and pouted. Ugh, what a child. Crossing her arms out in front of her, she sighed.

"Would it kill ya to give me a solid answer? I've been asking you all week and you always reply with the same sentence." There was a bit of an annoyance in her tone and it further irritated him. Who was she to get annoyed with him when she was frustrating him all week with her constant pestering?

Again, why did he agree to this?

He sighed roughly and gave her a sharp look.

Weird, he thought again. She wasn't intimidated at the slightest. She didn't even flinch. It was almost as if she was immune to his glares.

But this was something he discovered weeks ago when she first arrived. She was one of the very few that weren't frightened or put off by him.

"Fine." he finally surrendered and her eyes did that annoying thing were they grew so big he was sure she was a freakin alien or something because that wasn't normal. "But, you have to stop annoying the hell out of me after."

He could see the liveliness in her eyes fall slightly, but it was replaced with an annoyed twitch. She frowned at him, then shifted her demeanor once more. How the hell does that girl go through so many emotions at once? It wasn't fucking normal!

"Works for me!" There she goes, doing that smiling thing that she always did. It was really starting to piss him off. How was someone so happy all the time? It wasn't normal!

Kurata Sana had to be the most annoying person on this earth, he concluded.

And it wasn't because she was pestering him like her annoying best friend did.

No, the reason he had such disdain for the girl was because of her idiotic optimistic view of life. She was such an optimist with her irritating sense of humor and her ever present candid smiles. He would walk by her in the hall and she was always, always smiling. He could tell when she was in the room because of the way the atmosphere lit up, and how lively everyone in the room go.

Her happiness was a freakin' infection with the way it jumped from person to person. Already not being able to stand most of the people that attended this school, it made avoiding everyone all the much harder when he was trying to keep away from the light.

Hayama Akito didn't understand it in the slightest.

He wasn't able to understand how she was able to singlehandedly wrap the entire school around her finger without even trying.

Gah, why the hell was he evening thinking about her? With a frustrated sigh, he stood up and excused himself to the bathroom. He could feel her curious eyes on his back and he wanted nothing more than to turn around and bark at her to mind her own business.

And he would have too if the teacher had not been standing right there. He had enough on his plate than to deal with those assholes who called themselves educators.

As he made his way down the hall, he avoided all contact with the dwindled students hanging around the hallway. Most scurried away from him in fear, avoiding all eye contact.

Tch, annoying.

People avoided him, turned away when they saw him walking around the corner. He could hear their whispers sometimes. He could hear them gossip away about his apathetic attitude and his cold front. He could hear them mutter about the ice in his eyes.

Those who had known him since he was young had either grown wary of his changed personality or grown concerned. While he wasn't always an open child, he was certainly not as reserved as he was now. As embarrassing as it may have sounded, in elementary school he terrorized teachers as he took reigns over the boys in his classes.

They were all idiots who followed him around because he was able too. With the snap of his fingers, he could get the class out of taking a test or assignment by commanding his following liege of monkeys to do his bidding.

Thinking back, Hayama cringed in embarrassment. It wasn't something he was particularly proud of. His haughty attitude and arrogance often got him into trouble and put him in situations that weren't exactly pleasant. It caused a lot of strife between him and his parents, especially his father.

Stopping in his tracks, the blond teen clenched his fists tightly as a fiery anger burned in his eyes. There was almost a snarl at his lips as the thought of that man entered his mind.

To hell with him, Hayama thought in that lone second. He could feel himself trembling with anger and the sudden urge to hit something came about.

When he arrived to the restroom, he immediately ran to the faucet. Cupping his hands, he splashed water on his face over and over in hopes of decreasing his frustration. Hayama found that it did little to nothing to calm him as he stared at his broken reflection in the water that had pooled in the sink.

What a mess.

And he wasn't referring to the water splashed around the sink.

His eyes were empty, just like he was.

-O-

Sana watched as the boy left the class with a look of annoyance across his face.

He wore that gaze really well as that was the only form on expression she had ever seen him garner. It irritated Sana more than she would have liked as her curiosity starting chipping away.

Since the reveal of the accident and Ayame's sudden change in attitude, Sana's interest in the Hayama siblings had increased. Though she told herself to be patient and wait for the right opportunity, she couldn't help herself. She felt as if she was ten years old again, trying to put together all the puzzles of the mystery.

Because that's what the Hayama's were.

Especially Hayama Akito.

It was so hard to read him with how guarded his eyes were. Sana wasn't always very good at reading the atmosphere or telling what it was people were thinking. But, the auburn haired teenager had a knack for detecting the damaged and broken souls.

Guessed it took one to know one, huh?

She shook her head and thought back to the lone wolf.

This wasn't good for her, she concluded. The need to know more began gnawing at her and she had half a mind to follow behind Hayama and demand answers. Gods, what was wrong with her? She mentally slapped herself at that idea. How would that help anyone?

Besides, this project was one step through the door in terms of understanding what it was he hid under that mop of blond. Even if they were only meeting half way, that was more than what most people got from him.

She groaned as she dropped her chin to the surface of the desk. Dammit, she thought to herself. Damn her curiosity and her need to fix everything. Her mother always told her that if she kept putting her nose where it didn't belong, she was going to get burned.

And she had been burned one too many times. But she never learned.

When she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, Sana grabbed it absentmindedly. Her eyes went wide as she pulled her chin off the desk.

From: Fuka

Meet me in the girl's bathroom.

Sana huffed in slight annoyance in the authoritative tone in Fuka's message. Fuka was as bossy as she was demanding. That was always her nature when they were growing up. While Sana did ground her a bit, that didn't stop Fuka from keeping that arrogant attitude of hers.

Stupid best friend and her stupid demanding ways, she thought to herself as she replied.

To: Fuka

Oh, so you're talking to me again?

From: Fuka

Ugh, just come to the bathroom.

To: Fuka

What's the magic word?

From Fuka:

I hate you.

To Fuka:

Nope. Try again. You only get three chances and you've already used one. GO.

From Fuka:

UGH, stop playing and get your ass over here!

To Fuka:

One more chance.

From Fuka:

OMG. Can you please come to the bathroom?

A triumphed smile made way to her face.

To Fuka:

I'll create the perfect excuse.

From Fuka:

Just get here already, you idiot.

To Fuka:

Rude. I'll be there soon.

Sana quickly dug her phone back into the pocket of her school jacket as she rose her hand. Quickly making an excuse as to having to take a trip to the ladies restroom for the purpose of Mother Nature, Sugo Sensei quickly let her go.

Hearing snickers behind her, Sana pinked and internally growled, promising revenge on her stupid best friend. She ran to the bathroom as soon as her foot left the classroom and made her way to the second floor bathroom.

Huh, she wondered if Hayama was still in the boy's restroom. He wasn't back yet, but he could have very well been walking in the hallway without her noticing. She was running and not focusing to her surrounding area.

Why was she thinking about Hayama anyway? She scrunched her brows as she tossed the petty thoughts away. She opened the door to the girl's restroom and there was Fuka, leaning against one of the sinks.

At the sound of the open door, Fuka's head turned and sighed in relief.

"Alright, I'm here." Sana said as she went over to her. Fuka rolled her eyes.

"Clearly."

They locked eyes as they stared at one another intently. Fuka held her gaze against Sana, but in duels like this, Sana always outmatched her. It wasn't that Fuka didn't hold a mean glare. It was just that Sana could do it much longer.

She broke away and a victorious smile reached her lips.

Piece of cake.

"So I made a mistake." Fuka started and Sana's jaw almost fell to the floor.

Wait what? Rewind that, please!

"I realized that now-" Annoyance crossed Fuka's demeanor and she pinked. "Pick your jaw off the floor would ya!?"

Sana sealed her lips tight but her eyes were still as wide as dinner plates. Fuka admitting to a mistake meant the hell must had frozen over because her best friend never apologized.

"Look, I'm trying to apologize and you aren't letting me with that stupid look on your face!" She screeched, but the wide eyes never fell.

"I'm just shocked. You never apologize. I have to bend over backwards just to get you to admit that your wrong." Sana recalled all the incidents since the day they met. "And to apologize? Psh, you wouldn't even dare stoop so low."

Fuka scowled and her fist were clenched at her side. Sana smirked internally as she knew that the brunette was about to blow her cap off.

Maybe this was why Fuka never took her too serious?

Because she always made it a point to tease the brunette about everything. And she made it so easy too!

"Ugh! Won't you take anything seriously!?" Sana sighed and a frown fell on her lips. Jeeze, talk about overkill.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Better now?" She admitted with defeat and she could see Fuka groan.

Fuka rubbed at her temples for a quick second before reliving a sigh. Her frustrated features turned to a more apathetic demeanor as she let her tense shoulders fall. Sana was always really good at reading body language, so seeing Fuka let her guard down meant that she was about to get serious with her inner emotions.

Sana just knew her that well.

"I'm sorry, Sana." the brunette started, "It just seemed so odd to me that you were moving here because of your mom's job. I like to think that I know you and your family well enough that it almost seemed silly to me." Fuka wasn't wrong. It was silly to her too.

"And maybe because of the past, there has been a reason for me to think you were keeping something from me." Sana cringed lightly at that. She knew Fuka hadn't meant it in the way she said it, but it still kind of stung. It took a long time for Fuka to really learn about her and her past. And to say that Fuka was shocked was a understatement.

"But, I know you well enough that you wouldn't keep something from me unless you needed too." Fuka smiled faintly. "I really am glad that you're here though. Things we're getting a bit too boring for me. I needed something to change."

She couldn't help but join in Fuka's laughter. Sana was certainly the type of girl to bring energy to a group. It was always said things livened up around her. It might just be that carefree, optimistic personality of hers, or it might just be that she just had that effect on people. Whatever it was, the light always did shine bright around her.

"You know if something was up, I would have told you. All you had to do was believe me, stupid." Sana stuck her tongue out and Fuka chuckled.

"Okay… So I may have overreacted. So what?" The auburn haired teenager narrowed her eyes.

"So what? Fuka, you made it so painfully obvious! Everyone was on my case about why we weren't talking!"

The brunette shrug her shoulders and Sana sighed angrily. Jeeze! What a best friend Fuka was!

"So are we okay now?" If she squinted hard enough, Sana could barely recognize the pleading in her best friend's big, brown eyes. Again, Fuka wasn't the type of person to apologize, nonetheless, beg. But, sometimes, when her heart allowed it, she gave in.

"… Oh fine. We're okay." And Fuka knew it too when she smiled. Sana definitely wasn't the type to keep a grudge. That was more Fuka's style.

Both girls shared a candid smile and Sana felt utter relief in that moment. Not that she wasn't used to her best friend's antics, but fighting with Fuka was something that caused her too much grief. When they were younger, she was much more abrasive about it. But after some maturing, it turned into worry that was instilled in the back of her mind.

Coming to this new city and moving to a new school while having to make new friends wasn't something that was hard for her to adjust too. But, after almost three years of separation from Fuka, fighting was the first thing on her agenda. It was more about playing catch up on each other's lives.

"We should probably get back to class. I don't need Mr. Tadashi giving me an earful about being gone for so long." Fuka said as she walked past Sana and opened the door.

She gestured for Sana to pass by first.

"Oh yeah. That might be a good idea." Fuka rolled her eyes as she followed behind Sana.

"That reminds me…" Sana turned towards the door of the boy's restroom and stared intently. "I wonder if Hayama already went back to class?"

Fuka rose a brow and looked towards the door. "He left class?"

"Well, we were talking- well, I was talking to him- and he just got up and left to the restroom. If he's still in there, he's been in there a while." Sana explained, scrunching her brows at the blond's inability to communicate.

"Probably got annoyed with you or something. It sounds like a Hayama thing to do." Sana glared at her best friend and stuck her tongue out at her.

Fuka giggled, winking.

"Rude!" she fought back, "I was probably annoying him because I had been asking him to work on our stupid project all week!"

This caused Fuka to stop walking and look back at her with her bro raised high in question. Confusion crossed her face as she turned fully towards the young Kurata.

"You guys are working together on a project?" she asked, and Sana signed in realization.

The brunette had been avoiding her almost all week. Of course she didn't know about her and Hayama working together. Sana though Tsuyoshi might had said something in passing, but she guessed not.

"That's right." She stomped a fisted hand in the palm of her other hand. "You don't know because you were avoiding me all week!"

Fuka rolled her eyes in response. "I said I'm sorry, okay?" She crossed her arms and a scowl replaced her confused look. "So what's this project you two are working on?"

Sana explained the same to Fuka as she had explained to Tsuyoshi and Ayame before. And Fuka's reaction was very similar to the two. She was shocked and silent as the idea that the oldest Hayama agreed to this type of project. Sana played it off to seem like she was only concerned about the grade, but inside, her mind was already making assumptions on the Hayama mystery.

Fuka was silent, her apathetic gaze turning into a slight glare. It reminded Sana similarly to Ayame's. While Tsuyoshi was excited about this new opportunity, she could tell Ayame was almost offended in the way her older brother reacted.

Sana didn't blame her. Apparently, the two don't really talk. Sana's never probed too much, but from what she gathered and seen, the oldest Hayama does what he can to avoid his younger sister. Sana could only imagine how painful that must be for her.

The auburn haired teen had never had any siblings to fight with so it was hard for her to relate.

The closest thing she had to a sibling was Fuka.

"Fuka?" Sana called out to her.

"This… doesn't seem like Akito." she muttered, like if she was talking to herself. She looked up to Sana again. "You said you told Tsuyoshi and Ayame, right? How did they react?"

And Sana answered, explaining how Tsuyoshi thought it was a great idea at maybe seeing if this may reform Akito's way of thinking while Ayame seemed more upset. Fuka shook her head, agreeing with Ayame's thoughts.

"That Tsuyoshi. He's ever the optimistic when it comes to Akito." Sana nodded in agreement. She's definitely noticed how hard he's tried to include his best friend in everything. That was some devotion he had for Akito. If he wasn't dating Aya, she almost would had thought he was gay for the oldest Hayama. She laughed at such a silly thought.

"How did you get him to agree, Sana?" When Sana looked into Fuka's eyes, there was a sort of sadness that she hadn't seen in some time. Not since Takashi. While Sana was very adamant about Fuka harboring feelings for Hayama Akito, she couldn't tell if this was because of those feelings or because how close she was to him.

"I- I didn't do anything. I just compromised with him, honestly." Fuka narrowed her eyes. "It's like I said. We meet half way. No more, no less."

"That- that just doesn't make any sense to me." Sana didn't remember the last time she had seen Fuka this conflicted. Maybe back with Takashi? She shook her head, erasing those thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do was bring up the ex-boyfriend.

"I dunno. But, I have to get back to class!" Sana decided to let Fuka dwell over it. If she had that much of an issue, she could take it up with the blond herself. Fuka waved her goodbye and Sana watched her retreating form.

When she opened the door, the class was still silent as the students were working on their in class assignment that she knew she should get started on. When her eyes scanned the room, they fell on the individual she was looking for.

His figure was sitting hunched over in the desk, scribbling on the paper in front of him. The more she learned, the more she wanted to know. She was itching for some background besides the car accident.

Sana just didn't get it.

What was it about Hayama Akito that compelled her so much?

-O-

Fuka didn't understand.

Tying on her gym shoes, she slammed her locker shut. Deciding that going back to class wasn't going to do her any good, she decided to take a trip to the practice room where the gymnastics team often practiced. She needed to clear her head because it was spinning.

How the hell did Sana do it?

How the hell did Sana make the ever broody, cold Hayama Akito agree to that type of project?

With a hard scowl, she went through the proper stretches to expand her body and muscles.

Fuka was angry and pissed as hell. Pissed as hell at her stupid bright and bubbly best friend and pissed as hell at that dumbass she called her friend, Hayama Akito.

In the two years that she had known Hayama Akito, it had been nearly impossible to get to know the damn boy. His heart was sealed shut and no matter how hard she poked, it never chipped away. She pestered him, dragged him to places, and even tried having in depth, heart to heart conversations with him.

But, he never freakin' budged!

He always gave her that stupid glare and pushed her away, calling her annoying for pestering him so much.

The most she had ever gotten from him was when they got into an argument about Ayame and the scars on her back. She had moved to Tokyo a few months after their accident, so she wasn't aware of the connection between the two siblings. She didn't even know that Hayama Akito had a younger sister until a few months after her arrival.

Initially, she didn't care for Akito. She was saddened by the separation from her best friend and was worried about how she was going to make new friends without Sana by her side. She noticed the blond, noticed the way he withdrew from the students and the way he ventured off on his own. But, Fuka never paid him much attention.

It was until she noticed the coldness in his eyes. They were strikingly similar to hers when she was younger. Before she met Sana.

And that's what initially drew Fuka to him.

Maybe Sana had rubbed off on her too much, but in that moment, Fuka felt compelled to learn more about him. That's when she began asking more questions about him and interrogating Tsuyoshi about their past. He was put off at first by her sudden need for information, but gladly fed her the information she needed to try and get him to open up.

Well, turned out she wasn't so lucky as he immediately blew her off and ignored her constant pestering. Over the course of two years, she hadn't so much as made a dent in his ice wall around his heart, but she still tried. There was instances where the two would have small conversations.

Whether it was him begrudgingly helping her with her homework or her asking for advice, it was small steps of victory for her. She felt like she was finally getting somewhere with him.

Then she officially met Ayame. Fuka being as perceptive as she was, she immediately noticed the tension and lack of communication between the two Hayama siblings. Deciding to ask Akito, she had and Fuka had never seen eyes so dark. With angry eyes, he told her to leave it alone and left. Being the way she was, Fuka didn't leave it alone and delve deeper.

That's when she learned about the car accident. She learned about the scars on Ayame's back, about both Hayama siblings being in the hospital for a few months.

Also due to Sana's influence, Fuka knew there was more.

That's when she got into the argument with Akito that caused the blond to withdraw even more. Fuka had never heard so many words come out from Akito's mouth since the time she met him.

"Dammit, Fuka. I said to mind your own damn business! It doesn't concern you! So stop trying to pry! I'm so damn tired of you always trying to stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Do me a favor and stop. I indulged you. I tolerated you, but now, now you're just starting to irritate me! So back the hell off!"

Fuka had never been so hurt in her life. She felt like she was stabbed in heart with his spiteful words and angry, burning eyes. Before she could collect herself and her feelings, she slapped him.

And what hurt her even more was that there was no remorse in his eyes.

They were so cold she didn't recognize who he was anymore.

Since then, Hayama had retreated. Fuka stopped pushing for a few months, ignoring the blond to heal from the scar on her heart.

It didn't hurt as much as Takaishi did. But the sting was absolutely still there.

After a few months, she began to talk to Akito again. He didn't seem super surprised, but he acknowledged her, which was more than she thought he would do. Of course there was no apology, but he let her stay around. And that was good enough for her.

Slowly, she was making progress.

And then here comes Kurata Sana.

Fuka growled as she ran towards the spring board on the mat.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! She thought. Fuka released a heavy grunt as she landed her jump and heaved.

How the hell does Sana do it? How does she get that damn boy to agree with her on that sort of project without trying so hard? It took Fuka two years to form whatever the hell she had with the blond. It took her two frustrating years to get him to even acknowledge her.

And then here comes Sana freakin' Kurata with her upbeat personality and stupid, infectious smile that lights up the damn room and her annoying optimism!

What took Fuka two years only took Sana a little more than a month.

It wasn't fair! Fuka thought to herself as she went for another jump.

She has tried so damn hard.

In everything she did, she gave it more than 100%. She pushed herself for excellence not only for her parents, but for herself. She took pride in that everything she got, she earned.

But for Sana, everything just came natural.

Albeit, she was awful in school and that was the only thing Fuka could hang over her head.

But everything else, friends, sports, boys, whatever it may be, Sana never had trouble finding it. It was such an aggravating thought.

Fuka breathed heavily as she collapsed on the floor, feeling completely disheartened.

She knew it wasn't Sana's fault. Even if it infuriated her, even if she was- dare she say it?- envious of her, it wasn't the auburn haired teen's fault.

That was just who Sana was.

The brunette released a bitter laugh as she pounded her right fist on the practice room's hollow floor.

How awful of her, Fuka thought.

How awful of her to wish that her best friend stayed in Nagoya and never made an appearance here in Tokyo.

A/N: PLOT. PLOT. PLOT. We are finally getting to the plot of the story now that introductions and Sana's settlement in done. 8 chapters into the story and all.

Anyway, I wrote this very quickly. I was eager to get this chapter out as I was excited to finally delve a bit into the minds of our protagonists. Some dialogue, but a lot of inner thoughts. I've been dropping subtle hints here and there that may give some indication about the past of our characters, but reveals are coming… soonish?

There's a lot in store for our favorite characters. Some good, some bad. I've said this once in another author's note, but I know that Sana seems more mature. And it's intended to be like that. It'll be explained as the story progresses, but I am trying to tie it back to her anime/manga character. As I am doing for all the characters. But I think it's really important to get Sana and Akito right.

I know I've probably lost readers and followers due to the amount of time I've delayed on updates, but I'm hoping I can bring them back by updating more often.

So, tell me what you think? Reviews are always appreciated.

Until next time!
-Dark Waffle